Jack Torrance, a writer who was played by Nicholson in the film, then becomes possessed by the evil spirits in the hotel and attacks his family.

But the young Danny, whose psychic abilities strengthened the hotel's ghosts, eventually manages to escape with his mother Wendy.

King disclosed the sequel will take up the story when Dan is middle-aged after “drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father's legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence".

The book opens with him settling in a New Hampshire town and taking a job at a nursing home where his "shining" power helps him comfort the dying.

Known by the local people as "Doctor Sleep", Dan comes into contact with Abra Stone, a 12-year-old who has "the brightest shining ever seen".

He also “runs afoul of a gang of wandering psychic vampires who feed on people's energy”.

A spokesman for King's British UK publisher, Hodder and Stoughton, last night said Doctor Sleep would return to the "characters and territory" of the original novel.

Jack Nicholson in The Shining (Picture: ALAMY)

"This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of hyper-devoted readers of The Shining and wildly satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon,” he added.

Tonight fans posted on the official King website and Twitter to express their excitement at the news.

King, who lives in Maine with his author wife Tabitha, has written more than 50 novels, which have sold at least 350 million copies and is worth an estimated £250 million.

Many of the father-of three's works have been adapted into films or television movies.